TRANSCRIPTION
we found that the harbour reported does indeed exist. but that the lack of water makes it unpracticable for a ship the size of ours and even one very much smaller, for at high tide it has only 3 fathoms' depth between the sand-bars there. The rivers, too, are merely arms of the sea, which disappear amongst the swamps. The isthmus forming the South side of the entrance to this port is no more than 90 feet across and is merely a heap of sand covered by low shrubs. Some fish of the horse-mackerel variety were caught there and the sailors feasted off them, as well as off the same fruit that the other boat had found.
From the isthmus a fire was seen in the interior. and someone even claims to have spotted some natives on the beach, but at a great distance. I am awaiting Mr. Ransonnet's written report and Mr. Faure's plan. Mr. Bonnefoi's boat likewise saw some smoke inland, but did not sight any natives, although the men thought they spotted some traces of them.
The weather was very hazy overnight and the breeze still blew strongly. I would have liked to be able to set sail the following day, but since I had had a report of a type of kangaroo on the island, whose colour was quite different from the one we knew, as well as of some very unusual birds, I decided to stay another day for the natural history of the region. which it is fitting to know.
